Chronic pain: clinical features, assessment and treatment.
A significant number of people in the UK experience chronic pain, resulting in high levels of suffering and reduced quality of life. Management of chronic pain is complex, time consuming and not always successful. Good communication between patients and healthcare professionals is essential to ensure realistic treatment plans and outcomes can be negotiated. Accurate assessment is also key, and nurses play a fundamental role in ensuring patients with chronic pain receive the most appropriate care.
Mackintosh
Carolyn
C
Division of Nursing, University of Bradford, Bradford. c.mackintosh@bradford.ac.uk
Elson
Sue
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D000700:Analgesics / Q000145:classification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D006801:Humans; D009407:Nerve Block; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D000700:Analgesics; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000928:Antidepressive Agents